NEIL LENNON has told how he went to greet female fans – only to learn they were really after Westlife star Nicky Byrne.

The Celtic boss revealed on an Irish chat show he was left red-faced by the gaffe outside the Hoops’ training ground.

Neil, 41, was with Nicky on The Late Late Show when he told host Ryan Tubridy: “One day I turned up and there was a large group of ­middle-aged women. So as you do, you show your ­manners and pull over for an autograph and they were all, ‘Neil, is Nicky Byrne here? I have taken the day off work to see him.’

“For security reasons, we could only let four or five in and we made Nicky get changed and train with some of the guys. It made these women’s day.”

Neil and Nicky were on the programme to promote RTE show Football’s Next Star – that will find a new player for the Hoops.

The singer will work with the club he supports to find the best prospect from ­thousands of hopefuls. He said: “With my football ­background, I thought this is a great opportunity for me to go back to my roots.

“And also since Westlife I have always wanted to get into TV.”

He said of his time working with the club: “Celtic has this old-fashioned homely vibe.

“You walk in and the women on reception come up and give you a hug and a cup of tea.”

But Lennon joked: “They don’t do that with me.”

Lennon revealed he finally feels safe again in Glasgow.

He said: “Glasgow has been my home for 12 years. I have a boy who is six years of age who loves life there and loves what I do in the football scene.”